Don't tell Woody Williams that the National League West is so lousy that the Padres could win it by crawling blindfolded to the finishing line. After accepting blame for last night's 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros, Williams took no solace in defeats by the two teams closest to the Padres in the National League West.

There have been occasions when Kevin Towers acted the part of swami – and wasn't very good at it. Junking the Tarot cards, the Padres' general manager now prefers to dwell on the present, his team being in first place and all. But, as a connoisseur of fine wine, he knows the meaning of time, and how it can be good and bad, depending on grapes and weather.

What was initially a quiet holdout twisted and turned fiercely as it came to a close. And yesterday, in its first day as history, its details were muddied. Antonio Gates dropped a few bombs as he faced the media before practicing with his team for the first time this summer.

DEL MAR – Patrick Valenzuela and Corey Nakatani got into a fight in the jockeys' room here yesterday following the second race and then were the principals in a stewards' inquiry following the seventh that ended with Valenzuela's mount sustaining cuts and the rider storming off, fuming with anger that stewards did not find Nakatani at fault for the incident.